Let Me Go
Chapter One: The Prince's Curse
"Prince Ai, Please! Spare me! Please!"
In the throne sat Prince Ai Mikaze. He was a handsome young man with cyan-colored hair and eyes to match. His eyes were dull as he gave a swift motion of his hand only meaning one thing. "Kill him."
"No! Please!" The man begged as the guards dragged him out the throne towards the execution chamber.
Next to the prince, was his two servants. The butler, Reiji, sighed as he saw the man being taken out by force and glanced at Ai with a sympathetic expression. "Ai-Ai, must you kill him? I mean it was only a small mistake. Anyone could have forgotten to load a single stack of cotton."
"Nevertheless, I don't tolerate mistakes." Ai returned coldly. "If I had let that slide then he would have surely done it again. I have a low tolerance for these types of things. You know this, Reiji."
"That's true but-"
"Will you stop arguing with his highness, Reiji?" Interrupted the Steward, Ranmaru, while listening to Reiji question the prince's order. He was the most serious out the two. "All will be as the prince declares. There is no other way."
The brown-haired butler pouted. "Always so mean, Ran-Ran."
"I am merely trying to uphold the honor of my Prince. As you should be trying to do." Ranmaru returned crossing his arms looking at Ai. "Now, my prince, if you are ready, Mrs. Nanami has prepared dinner for you."
"Fine." He agreed before standing up and walking. Ranmaru and Reiji trailed right behind him. As they walked, Reiji looked out the large windows. Storm clouds were rolling in as the seconds passed and by the looks, it was going to be a nasty one indeed. It was very large castle so they were no way in harm of it.
Ranmaru opened the door for Ai as they approached the dining hall. He simply walked silently and took his normal seat at the end. Reiji closed and the door sighed a bit looking around. The door which led to the kitchen and the orange-haired maid came running in with his tray of special made food. Behind her, was a small child carrying wine and glass.
She looked back to him. "Be very careful, Natsuki. I don't want you to drop it." She told him while sitting the food in front of the prince.
"Okay, Auntie." He replied before attempting to put the bottle beside Ai, failing because he was too little. Ai rested his elbow on the chair's arms making a fist and leaning his head against it in boredom while watching the small boy's efforts, not moving an inch to help him.
Natsuki tried to again and saw that this time he made it, though it was a little higher than before. Turning around, he saw that Reiji had given him a little boost up. He gave a toothy grin. "Thanks, Rei-Chan."
He winked back as the response putting him down and Natsuki scurried back over to his Auntie who was looking out a window as Ai began to eat silently. "Oh my, it looks like it's going to a terrible storm tonight." She commented.
"I noticed that. Hopefully, no one is dumb enough to be outside when it hits." Ranmaru said before glancing at Natsuki. "Otherwise, the lightning might come and just get you." He said in a spooky voice with an evil smirk.
The small child hid behind his Auntie's dress holding on to her waist. "That won't happen will it, Auntie?" He asked scared by what Ranmaru had told him.
She shook her head. "No, Natsuki. Mr. Ranmaru was just joking around."
He continued to smirk at him. "Or...Mrs. Nanami might just be lying to her sweet little nephew so he won't be scared when it comes."
"Knock it off, Ran-Ran." Reiji told him before looking at the maid. "Sorry, Haruka."
"It's alright." She looked again at Natsuki before picking him. "Now, listen to me. The lightning can't get you because you are inside and safe with me. Okay?"
"Okay!"
It wasn't long after before Ai finished and stood up. "I'm going to watch that execution. Ranmaru, Reiji, let's go." He began walking again. Reiji opened the door for him this time, mentally sighing. How the prince could watch those was beyond him. The loud lightning crashed outside along with the roaring thunder that followed. The rain hit against windows almost as if someone were throwing pebbles. It was plain to see that it was a very strong wind being as there were leaves flying all around and the trees swaying from one side to the next.
While Ai paid no heed to what was going on seeing how it didn't concern him in the first place, Reiji noticed and it made him a little alarmed. There were a lot of sellers and merchants in the kingdom for a festival that coming up late in the week and most of them had no shelter. "I hope they make it out okay.." He muttered.
The two-colored-eyed steward heard him and raised an eyebrow. "Just who are you referring too, Reiji?"
"I'm taking all those people who don't have protection from the storm tonight." He looked at him with almost sad expression. "They might get a very dangerous disease or might even die if they're are stuck in it.
"That shouldn't concern you." Ai cut in wit an emotionless tone. "It's their problem, not ours."
Reiji frowned. "Ai-Ai..."
"And I'm positive that I already told you to not call me that." Ai added turning around to glare at him. His cyan eyes pierced daggers into him."Childhood friends or not, I am your Prince. You shall respect me as so or shall be punished. Understand?"
He nodded sadly keeping his frown. "Yes, your majesty."
When they walked by the main door to the castle there was a large knock at it. The 2 servants stopped and stared at it. "Who could that be a this most unreasonable hour?" Ranmaru said in a surprised tone.
"And with this storm too?" Added Reiji, just as surprised as he was.
Ai rolled his eyes. "Honestly...Just open the damn door and see who it is. I don't have time to listen to the both of you ask questions about who could be. I'd like to see that execution when it happens." His voice sounded very annoyed.
"Yes, Sire." Ranmaru bowed before going and opening the door part way. In the doorway, was an old woman who wore a dark black cloak with a hood. She had wrinkles in every corner of her face and her dark red eyes were two completely different shapes. She was soaked and it made her appearance even less unattractive. He made a face. "Can I help you?"
"As you can see, Sir. I have unfortunately been caught in this horrible storm. I am old and my home is far from here. Might I please trouble you for a room for tonight?" She asked.
Still very troubled by her appearance, the steward about to turn her down cold when Reiji popped up. He gasped. "Oh no, you poor thing. Please come in." He led her inside earning a glare from Ranmaru.
Once inside, he shut the door and sighed walking after him. "The prince is not going to like this." He thought while following Reiji and the old woman.
Ai turned to them. "Well?" He saw the old woman and raised an eyebrow. "And just who is this?"
"Um...My Prince, this old woman was caught in the storm and was hoping for a place to stay for tonight." Reiji explained briefly while Ai examined her appearance.
"In exchange for the night, Might I offer your highness this." Her hand had been hidden under the cloak came out revealing not only her gaunt fingers and arm but a bright blue rose that despite being rained on, looked fresh picked.
The cyan-haired prince analyzed the flower before back at the hideous old woman with a snarl. "And just why would I accept such a dull gift in exchange for a night at my castle? I could have a thousand others grown just like it. What so special about this one?"
She held up a warning finger. "Ah but I digress, don't look at just the flower for more shall be known once you see past its colored petals. It is indeed a very sweet flower but is also sour to those of dark hearts."
"Was that a threat?" Ai asked crossing his arms as hard glare formed across his face. His patience for this woman was growing very thin very quickly. "Get out of my castle before I have you lynched."
"I'd like my prince to reconsider his offer for I too hold many secrets naked to the human eye." She warned yet again.
"I hate repeating myself. I said get out and this is your final warning." Ai snarled at her which hadn't ever shown to neither Reiji or Ranmaru. For once, the both of them feared for the old woman safety.
The old woman smirked. "I see now. I can see it clearly. You have no heart." Slowly, she began growing taller and taller as the cloak hid more of her appearance until she as tall as Ranmaru. She removed to cloak only to reveal a beautiful woman with long chestnut red hair and her eyes beautiful and rosy cheeks. She was almost glowing.
"Y-You're a.." Ai backed away from her a bit with wide eyes.
"A sorceress, Young Prince." She said. Her voice was also enchanting. "My name is Tomochika and I have seen the darkness inside you. For you were not born with a heart of love. But a metronome of ice. And for that, I must punish you."
"W-Wait a minute!" Ai said looking at her. "I-I had no idea..you looked nothing like how did. You can't-"
She cut him off. "Oh? And what if I did? Would have let me stay? So it's you see people for what they look like and not for what they really are." She reached out a hand towards him as her hair blew around. Reiji and Ranmaru moved away from her. "Prince Ai Mikaze, You're punishment has now been decided. For you, everyone will be able to see the two side of you. How you are and how you look like and I'm cursing the rest of the people who live here so that it won't only be your life that you have ruined."
Ai's eyes went wide as he blinked. Slowly, his nails turned into claws and his blue eyes were turning dark red along his teeth becoming razors sharp. "W-What have you done?"
"I merely changed you into the beast you are." Tomochika returned. "Now, whenever that high temper of yours decides to rampage, you'll take that form until you calm down then you shall return to your normal state along being much more stronger and dangerous. Your servants shall forever be cursed until you learn to love and find someone who loves you for the beast you are. You have until your 21st birthday and the last petal to fall on this rose."
"What if I can't?"
She smirked. "Then you will remain a hideous beast forever." Laughing to herself, she began to fade away.
"No, wait!" Ai shouted but she had already vanished.
So ashamed of how he looked, Prince Ai stormed up to his room and shut the door almost making it fall from the hedges. He tore up every picture of himself and eventually found himself on his bed leaning against it. The rose from Tomochika appeared on a table along with a mirror. Her words echoed in his mind.
"Only a true love..." Ai said sitting on his bed looking down to his claws before glaring. "Who could love a monster like me..."
I bet it was a little cliche but hey when in Rome. I'm changing up the story a lot as we continue but who was shocked to know that Nanami isn't Beauty?*raises hands* Ha! Oh, wait...But Still, this will and shall continue on. I shall see you in Chapter Two! (Which will be longer)